Friday is here and it’s time to unwind with some new music from some of our favorite artists.
"IF YOU LEAVE" - AYONI
Ayoni returns with an anthemic new single called “If You Leave”. The song starts with an ethereal soundscape and showstopping harmonies. The tempo speeds up once the chorus kicks in. Ayoni’s vocals over a pulsating drumbeat feels like a rush of adrenaline. It’s the kind of song you’d want to dance your worries away.
According to Ayoni on Instagram, “If You Leave” started out as a breakup song that evolved into a breakout anthem and a promise to herself to no longer look to the industry or to others for validation: “All I need is within myself and my community, and fear of failure will no longer hold me back from becoming my biggest and most powerful self. My power is infinite and this song has taught me that. My future is bright and I’m in love with the possibilities.“
“If You Leave” is a powerful start to what we believe will be a prosperous era for Ayoni.
"AQUA GIRL" - COOL COMPANY
Cool Company stays true to their name with another funky, fresh track titled “Aqua Girl”. The production is modern yet retro. It reminds us of a classic Prince song. Cool Company’s choice of incorporating water sound effects makes for an enjoyable auditory experience.
The music video is just as fun and nostalgic as the song. The graphics will transport you into a classic video game (think Mortal Kombat).
“Aqua Girl” is the embodiment of summer. Kick back, relax, and vibe to this track.
"SLOWLY" - OLIVIA DEAN
Olivia Dean’s “Slowly” is a beautiful ballad about not rushing into falling in love. Her vulnerability and tender vocals over a piano draw you in on first listen: “I find it hard, hard to be soft / Stop saying I’m perfect / When clearly I’m not / Just need to catch / Catch my breath”.
Dean states: “‘Slowly’ feels like one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever written. I used to think falling in love was supposed to be chaotic, fiery and tumultuous, but I’ve realised that really, to fall in love normally – and to have a healthy and ordinary relationship is a beautiful thing. It’s a song asking for patience when starting to fall in love.”
The music video perfectly captures the fragility and intimacy that this song processes. It’s just Olivia Dean at her piano, opening up her heart to us, the audience.
This song is off of her upcoming EP, Growth which will be released on July 30th. Dean tweeted: “These songs are a time capsule of the last year, me processing a new perspective on love and loving myself.” We’ve seen the growth in her artistry and it is memorizing.
LAST YEAR WAS WEIRD, VOL. 3 - TKAY MAIDZA
Tkay Maidza’s trilogy is finally complete. Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 gives us 8 tracks full of effortless, melodic hooks and witty one liners that we’ve come to know and love from her.
The EP opens with “Eden”, a carefree track that evokes nostalgia with the use of a sample. “Onto Me” continues the sonic nostalgia. The production is a major 00’s vibe. “Onto Me” features R&B singer/songwriter Umi. It’s the collab we didn’t know we needed until now.
An album highlight has to be “So Cold”. It’s a funky track with a breezy flow. The chorus is a major earworm as Maidza calls out former partners in her life who were a waste of time: “With you, I ain’t fallin’ in love / I ain’t fallin’ in love no more”. “Syrup” with its deep bass and pulsating beats feels like a Missy Elliott track. It’s the perfect house party banger.
Another highlight is “Kim” featuring Yung Baby Tate (you might remember her from part 1 of our Black Music Month series). This track is an ode to Disney classic animated series, Kim Possible. The hook is simple, yet catchy: “Bitch I’m, bitch I’m Kim”. You can’t help but feel hype after listening to “Kim”. With playful lines like “Anything’s possible, go ask your mans / I saw him naked and ghosted him since” and “Bitch, you Kim, I’m Shego / I ain’t never said I wanna be a nigga hero / Hoes act green, I be gettin’ that dinero / Bank account big, yeah, it’s somethin’ like my ego”, Tkay Maidza and Yung Baby Tate’s collab is as fierce as Kim Possible herself.
“High Beams”,“Cashmere”, and “Breathe” close out the Australian-Zimbabwean rapper’s triumphant EP. Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 is the final bow to Tkay Maidza’s 3-part series. Name a better trilogy. We’ll wait.